August 8, 2012
Contact:
Dave Finley, Public Information Officer
Socorro, NM
(575) 835-7302
dfinley@nrao.edu
Mike Holstine
Green Bank, WV
(304) 456-2231
mholstin@nrao.edu
Associated Universities, Inc. President Ethan Schreier, left, presents a $5,000 donation to, from left, Bartow-Frank-Durbin Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Buster Varner, Rescue Chief Janet Ghigo, and Deputy Fire Chief John Ford, right.
CREDIT: NRAO/AUI
Observatory Staff and Community Honored for Service Following Rare Storm
The staff of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) at Green Bank, West Virginia, along with local emergency-services personnel, have been honored for their outstanding efforts in assisting the community after the devastating derecho storm that carved a swath of destruction from Iowa to the Atlantic on June 29.
Community Service Award to the NRAO Green Bank site staff, represented by Green Bank Site Director Karen O'Neil, right. CREDIT: NRAO/AUI |
The NRAO Green Bank staff was presented with the Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) Community Service Award by AUI President Ethan Schreier. The award honors observatory personnel who have exceeded all expectations in their outreach and help to local communities.
"The selfless efforts of the NRAO staff in using the observatory's emergency resources to help the recovery undoubtedly made the disaster much more bearable for many residents," Schreier said. "They set a great example of what it means to be a good neighbor in time of need, in addition to doing cutting-edge astronomy," he added.
During the ceremony, AUI gave $5,000 to the Bartow-Frank-Durbin Volunteer Fire Department, represented by Buster Varner and Janet Ghigo, in recognition of their "incredibly dedicated service in helping the community recover from the storm's devastation."
The fast-moving storm left much of West Virginia without electrical power, phones, or internet service. Within Pocahontas County, where the observatory is located, 100 percent of the residents lost electrical power, in some cases for as long as ten days. Telephone and internet services also were severely disrupted throughout the recovery period.
The NRAO staff moved swiftly to support their community and help their neighbors. Using the observatory's emergency generators, site housing, and a water storage system, the staff turned the astronomical facility into an invaluable resource for support and recovery.
In the days following the storm, NRAO opened its residence hall to area residents who needed electricity for medical equipment such as oxygen tanks and other emergency apparatus. The site refrigeration systems were used to store medicines from the local clinic as well as perishable stock from local businesses, and the water supply provided drinking water for local residents throughout the disaster.
Commercial power was restored to the site just 40 hours after the storm hit, allowing the observatory to open further to the public. The observatory's bunkhouse, normally used for visiting student groups, provided residents the opportunity to shower, wash clothes, and cool off from the 90-degree heat in an air-conditioned space. The cafe in the observatory's Science Center served food and provided additional air-conditioned space.
Observatory staff members also provided rooms for National Guard personnel, meals, and cooking and serving space for the Red Cross when they arrived to provide meals. The observatory's electrical power was used to recharge batteries, wheelchairs, and oxygen equipment. Numerous NRAO employees volunteered to help local residents and agencies throughout the emergency.
"Our observatory became an important multi-purpose resource for its neighbors in need and for the personnel helping with the recovery efforts," said NRAO Director Tony Beasley. "We're very proud of our people and commend them for their outstanding efforts on behalf of their community," he added.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
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